Selector mechanism



April 9, 1929- P. A. GOLLNIICK ET AL 1,708,268

SELECTOR MECHANI SM Filed Sept. 10, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 OOOOGQOOOQOOOOOOQQOQQQQ 0000OOOOOOOOOOOOOOQOOQQGQQ April 1929. P. A. GOLLNICK ET AL SELECTOR MECHANISM Filed Sept. 10, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 0" O 3 G O Q 0 O O April 1929- P. A. GOLLNICK ET AL 1,708,268

SELECTOR MECHANI SM Filed Sept. 10, 1927 4 Sheets$heet 5 v fmew.

April 9, 1929- P. A. 'GOLLNICK ET AL 1,708,268

SELECTOR MECHANI SM Filed Sept. 10, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I John J. Toolan.

Patented Apr. 9, 1929..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL A. GOLLNICK, JOHN J. TOOLAN. AND CURTIS G. KRANZ; or omcaeo, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNORS TO SPIEGEL, MAY, STERN COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A con- TPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SELECTOR MECHANISM.

Application filed September 10, 1927. Serial No. 218,687.

This invention relates to selector mechanisms for electrically controlling various operations in a machine and particularly to selector mechanisms for addressing machines wherein address bearing strips or stencils are fed seriatim along a guideway to a printing mechanism which may be controlled by the selector.

A selector mechanism of this general class is shown in Patent No. 1,556,929 issued October 18, 1925, to Paul A. Gollnick'and Selector mechanisms of this general type usually comprise a battery of selector pins supported in a reciprocating framelor carriage and having contact portions movable into and out of contact with stationary electric terminals arranged in circuits which control the printing mechanism or various other parts of the machine, as is well understood in the art. The engagement of the movable contact portions with the sta-. tionary terminals is dependent upon the positions of the selector pins relative to the stencils. The selector pins are usually axially shiftable relative to the reciprocating carriage so as to permit those pins which are not in a particular selection to rest on top of the stencil while others move into alined apertures in the stencils.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a selector mechanism having an improved form of selector pin and movable contact element; to provide an improved form of carriage for supporting the pin; to provide improved means for reciprocating the carriage to move the selector pins toward and away from the stencil guideway; to provide improved means for securing the selector pins and contact elements against rotation relative to the carriage; to provide improved mechanism for yieldingly resisting axial movement of the pins relative to the carriage and for detachably securing the pins to t e carriage; and to provide improved mechanism of this kind which may be readily moved out of its operative position to permit removal or change of the selector pins.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a plan of a selector mechanism to which this invention is applied.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, certain parts being shown in section.

Figs. 3 and 4 are details in elevation of the selector pins.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6, but showmg the carriage in its lowermost position, with'one selector pin projecting through the stencil and another pin resting on top of the stencil frame, certain parts being omitted for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan of a stencil adapted for use in connection with the improved selector.

A selector mechanism to which this invention is applied may be used in various different types of machines but, in the specific form herein shown, it is used in connection with an addressing machine. Inasmuch as the present invention relates particularly to the selector mechanism, certain parts of the addressing machine not relating thereto and believed unnecessary to a complete understanding of the invention have been omitted from the drawings.

In the form shown, the improved selector includes a stationary frame on which the fixed terminals of the electric circuits are mounted, and a reciprocating carriage forming a support for a plurality of axially movable selector pins having movable contact portions which are movable into and out of engagement with the fixed terminals. Improved means is provided on the carriage for yieldingly resisting axial movement of the pins in one direction relative to the carriage and for confining the pins in the carriage.

In the form shown, the addressing machine comprises an upright frame 1 having a horizontal guideway 2, along which stencils 3 are fed edgewise in a step-by-step movement by a conveyor 4- to the printing position adjacent a printing mechanism, not shown. The printing mechanism usually includes an impression element which is movable into and out of engagement with those stencils from which it is desired to take an impression. The operating mechanism which actuates the impression element is controlled electrically by an improved selector mechanism 5, preferably located in advance of the printing mechanism. Various parts of the addressing machine other than the selector, but these are well understood in the art and have been omitted from the drawings,

The stencils 3 may be of the common type comprising a thin membrane 6,.wherein the characters are cut and which is mounted in a rectangular.card-board frame 7. Formed in the stencil. frames 7, are apertures 8, adapted to receive the selectonpins. The positions of the apertures 8 on the frame 7 determine the selection, as is well understood.

In the embodiment illustrated, the im-.

proved selector mechanism 5 comprises a stationary frame 9 mounted on the frame 1 and a vertically reciprocating carriage 10, which supports a plurality of axially movable selector pins 11, which are detachably secured to the carriage by improved yielding means 12. The selector pins 11 are disposed-vertically so as to be movable into and out of engagement with the stencils 3 during the recipro cation of the carriage 10.

The frame 9 is preferably a casting comprising a standard 13 and an integral U shaped supporting part 14. The standard 13 'has a base flange 15, which is rigidly secured to the frame 1 by bolts 16 or other suitable fastening means. Formed in the up er part of the standard 13, is a bearing 17 or supporting one end of a rod 18, which is secured against removal by a nut 19. Formed in the standard 13 adjacent its lower end, is a bearing 20 for supporting a stud 21, which is secured against removal by means of a nut 22.

The U-shaped part 14 comprises a base part 23 and a pair of spaced, substantially parallel arms 24 and 25 provided with strengthening ribs 26. Formed on the arm 25, is a laterally projecting lug 27, which is pivotally secured to a stud 28 mounted in a bracket 29 which is supported on the frame 1. The bracket 29 also supports one end of the rod 18.

Mounted on the upper faces of the arms 24 and 25, are insulating bars 30 having seats 40 for supporting electric terminals 41 in staggered relation to one another. Mounted on one end of the terminals 41, are suitable binding posts 42 for connection to the wires of the electric circuits, not shown. Rigidly secured to the free ends of the arms 24 and 25, is a strip 43 having an inturned-flange 44 forming a supporting ledge, to which one end of an insulating bar 45 ,is secured. The other end of the bar 45 is rigidly secured to the base part 23. Mounted on the insulating bar 45, is a plurality of electric terminals 46 insulated from one another by strips 47. Mounted on one end of the terminals 46, are binding posts 48. The terminals 46 are spaced inwardly from the terminals 41, so as to permit the selector pins to move in the gaps between the terminals during the reciprocation of the carriage.

In the embodiment illustrated, the improved reciprocating carriage 10 comprises a unitary casting 49, to which is secured a pair of guide bars '50 and a uide plate 51.

The casting 49 inclu es a base part 52 having a strengthenin web 53 and a pair of supporting end meml iers 54 and 55. The end member 54 is inclined rear-wardly and upwardly and has a bearing 56 at its outer end for receiving one end of a horizontal shaft 57, which is moved up and down by an oper 'ating mechanism 58, hereinafter described. Formed in the front edge of the arm 54, is a recess 59 forming a seat for supporting one end of the rear guide bar 50.

The end member is formed integral with the web 53 and is provided. at its upper end with a rearwardly projecting arm 60 having a bearin part 61 for receiving the arm 57.

Formed 1n opposite edges of the member 55, are recesses 62 providing seats for supporting the guide bars 50. Formed on the outer face of the supporting member 55, adjacent the upper end thereof, is a pair of lugs 63 forming bearings for a horizontally disposed hinge pin 64, to which the yielding means 12 is secured. I

Formed on the base part 52 of the carriage, is a boss 65, forming a bearing for a stud 66 which is connected to the forward end of a lever arm 67. The rear end of the arm 67 is pivotally secured to the stud 21.

The guide bars 50 may be substantially identical in construction and are provided with a plurality of apertures 68 forming seats for the axially movable-pins 11. Formed in one edge of each of the bars 50, are slots or recesses 69, which are alined with the apertures 68 for receiving portions of the movable contact members to secure the selector pins against rotation as hereinafter described. One end of each of the bars 50 is secured to the end member 55 by screws 70 or other suitable fastening means. The opposite end of the rear bar 50 is similarly secured to the end member 54.

Located adjacent the end member 54, is anupstanding plate 71, which is rigidly secured to the adjacent ends of the bars 50 by screws 72 or other suitable fastening means. Formed on the plate 71 is a laterally projecting part 73, to which the forward guide bar 50 is secured. Formed in the upper part of the plate 71, is a pair of spaced recesses 74 providing seats for supporting one end of the yielding means 12 as hereinafter described. The upstanding plate 71 forms a keeper for securing the means 12 against pivotal movement relative to the carriage to confine the selector pins in the guide bars 50 and late 51.

The plate 51 is rigidly secured to t 1e lower face of the base 52. by screws 75 or other fastening means and is provided with apertures 76 through which the lower ends of the pins 11 project.

The selector pins 11 are arranged vertically in the carriage 10 so that, upon reciprocation of the carriage, the lower extremities of the pins are moved into and out of engagement with the stencils 3. Rigidly secured to the upper end of each selector pin, is a contact element 77 adapted to move into contact with either one or another of the fixed terminals 41 and 46, when the respective selector pin is projected downwardly through the aperture 8 in the stencil. The pins 11, which are not alined with apertures in the stencil,

merely strike the frame 7 of the stencil so that the contact elements 77 of these pins are not lowered sufficiently to contact with the fixed terminals 41 and 46. The frame 1 and carriage 10 are electrically grounded as described in the aforementioned Patent No. 1,556,929. Formed on the contact elements 77 are downwardly projecting fingers 78 which slidably engage the recesses 69 for securin the selector ins a ainst rotation thereby insuring proper contact of the elements 77 and fixed terminals. The lower edge 79 of the contact element forms a stop adapted to engage the upper face of the adjacent bar 50 for limiting the downward axial movement of the pin relative to the carriage. The upper edge 80 of each contact element provides a bearing for engagement with the yielding means 12 to resist upward axial movement of the selector pin relative to the carriage.

In the form shown, the yielding means 12 comprises a pair of substantially parallel channel-shaped guides 81 secured to respectively opposite sides of a central casting 82. Formed in the flanges of the guides 81, are apertures 83 providing seats for a plurality of axially movable plungers 84, which are provided with bearing parts 85 on their lower ends for engaging the upper extremities of the selector pins. Embracing each of the plungers 84, is a spring 86 bearing between the top flange of the guide 81 and a shoulder 8, formed on the plunger. The springs 86 are arranged to normally urge the plungers downwardly relative to the guides 81 thereby resisting upward axial movement of the selector pins relative to the carriage. Formed at one end of the central casting 82, is a pair of curved arms 88 which are connected to the hinge pin 64 so as to permit the guides 81 to be swung away from the contact elements 77, thereby permitting removal of any or all of the selector pins. Mounted in the casting 82, is an axially movable locking bolt 89 normally urged outwardly by a spring 90 for engagement with a recess 91 in the keeper 71. The bolt 89 is provided with a handle 92 to facilitate retraction of the bolt in unlocking the device.

In the form shown, the operating mechanism 58, which reciprocates the carriage 10, includes a rocker member 93 pivotally mounted on the shaft 18. The rocker member 93 comprises a sleeve 94, loosely embracing the shaft 18, and having a. pair of integral arms 95' and 96 which are p votally connected at their outer ends to the rod 57. Projecting rearwardly from the sleeve 94, is a lever arm 97, which is curved upwardly and provided at its outer end with a roller 98 which engages a rota cam 99 fixed on a driven shaft 100. Extending downwardly from the sleeve 94, is a curved lever arm 101 having a roller 102 engaging a rotary cam 103 fixed on the shaft 100. IVith this improved arrangement of cams, rotation of the shaft effects a rocking movement of the member 93 and a consequent reciprocation of the carriage 10.

Extending downwardly from the sleeve 94, is a lug 104 which. supports one end of a spring 105. The other end of the spring is connected to a pin 106, which is mounted on the standard 13, so that the member 93 is normally rocked into positon to hold the roller 98 in engagement with the cam 99.

In operation, the stencils 3 are moved stepby-step along the guideway 2 so as to be brought in succession to a position directly below the selector pins 11. As the carriage 10 is reciprocated continuously by means of the mechanism 58, the pins 11 are moved vertically into and out of engagement with the stencils. The position ofthe aperture or apertures 8 on the stencil determines which of the selector pins is to be projected through the stencil and, therefore, determines which of the contact elements 77 is to engage a fixed terminal. In the event that any selector pin is not included in a particular selection, it will merely rest on top of the stencil frame 7 when the carriage 10 continues its downward movement. In this latter event, the spring 86 relating to the selector pin, which is not included in the selection, will be compressed as shown at the right of Fig. 7, so as to permit the carriage 10 to move downwardly suiliciently to project another pin or other pins through the stencil. WVhen it is desired to remove a selector pin or change its position in the carriage, the locking bolt 91 is retracted and the yielding means 12 is swung upwardly to shift the bearing portions 85 away from the contact elements 77. WVith this improved form and arrangement of parts, all of the selector pins may be locked or unlocked as a unit.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

- We claim:

1. A device of the class described comprispositioned to abut against one extremity of said pin for resisting axial movement of said in toward said means relative to said frame and for detachablysecuring said pin to said mounted on said frame, and yielding meansacting between said bearing member and pin for resisting axial movement of said pin 1n the direction of said member and for detachably securing said pin to said frame, said bearing member being movable away from said pin to permit the withdrawal of said pin from said frame.

3. A device of the classdescribed comprising a movable carriage having an aperture therein, a selector pin seated in said aperture and adapted for axial movement relative to said carriage, and yielding means separate from said pin and movably mounted on said carriage, said yielding means being movable into and out of position for confining said pin I in the aperture and for yieldingl resisting axial movement of the pin in one irection.

4. A device of the class described comprising a reciprocating carriage having an aperture therein, a selector pin seated in said aperture and adapted for axial movement relative to said carriage, and yielding means separate from said pin and hinged on said carriage, said yielding means being movable into and out of position for confining said pin in the aperture and for yieldingly resisting axial movement of the pin in one direction.

5. A device of the class described comprising a reciprocating carriage having an aperture therein, a selector pin seated in said aperture and adapted for axial movement relative to said carriage, and yielding means hinged on said carriage so as to be movable into and out of posit-ion for confining said pin in said aperture and for resist-ing axial movement of said pin in one direction relative to said carriage. v

6. A device of the class described comprising a reciprocating carriage having an aperture therein, a selector pin seated in said aperture and adapted for axial movement relative tosaid carriage, and yielding means hinged onsaid carriage and adapted to abut against one end of said pin for confining said pin in said aperture and for yieldingly resisting axial movement of the pin in one direction relative to said carriage.

7. A device of the class described comprising a movable carriage having an aperture therein, an axially movable selector pin seated in said aperture, yielding means movably mounted on said carriage for confining said pin in the aperture and for yieldingly resisting axial movement of the pin in one direcaroaaea tion relative to said carriage, and a latch for securing said means against movement relative to said carriage.

8. A device of the class described compris ing a movable carriage having an aperture therein, an axially movable selector pin seated in said aperture, yielding means movably.

mounted on said carriage forconfining said pin in the aperture and for yieldingly resistng axial movement of the'pln 1n one direction relative to said carriage, a keeper on said rality of apertures therein, axially movable selector pins seated in said apertures, yielding means hinged on said carriage for confining said pins in said apertures and for yieldingly resisting axial movement of the pins in one direction relative to said carriage, and a latch for securing said means against movement relative to said carriage.

A device of the class described com- PIlSll'lg acarriage, an axially movable selector pin on said carriage, a support hinged on said carriage, and a spring mounted on vsaid support in position to resist axial movement of said pin in one direction relative to said carriage, said support being movable to shift said spring away from said pin.

11 A device of the class described comprising a reciprocating carriage having a plurality of apertures therein, axially movable selector pins seated in said apertures, a support hinged on said carriage, and a plurality of springs mounted onsaid support and having bearing parts positioned to engage adjacent extremities of said pins for confining said pins in said apertures.

12. A device of the class described comprising a vertically reciprocating carriage having a plurality of apertures therein, upright selector pins seated in said apertures and adapted for movement axially relative to said carriage, a support located above said pins and hinged to said carriage, a plurality of springs mounted on said support and having bearing parts positioned to abut against the upper extremities of said pins for confinlng said pins in said apertures, and a latch arranged to secure said support against movement relative to said carriage.

13. A device of the "class described comprising a carriage having a slot therein, an axially movable selector pin on said carriage, and a contact element on said pin, said contact element having a projecting part spaced from said pin and slidably engaging said slot for securing said pin against turning relative to said carriage.

14. A device of the class described comprising a carriage having a slot therein, an

axially movable selector pin on said carriage, and a contact element on one extremity of said pin, said contact element having a projecting part arranged in substantially parallel spaced relation to said pin and slidably engaging said slot for securing said pin against turning relative to said carriage.

15. A selector mechanism comprisin -a reciprocatin carriage having a plurality of apertures therein and slots adjacent said apertures, an electric terminal located adjacent said carriage, axially movable selector pins seated in said apertures, and contact elements on said pins adapted to be moved into and out of contact with said terminal, said contact elements having integral parts thereof arranged in sliding engagement with said slots for securing said pins against turning relative to sa d carr age.

16. A selector mechanism comprising a re-' ciprocating carriage having a plurality of.

aperturestherein and slots adjacent said apertures, an electric terminal located adjacent said carriage, axially movable selector pins seated in said apertures, contact elements on said pins ada ted to be moved into and out of contact with said terminal, said .contact elements having integral parts thereof arranged in sliding engagement with said slots forsecuring said pins against turning relative to said carriage, a support hinged on said carriage, and resilient means mounted on said support and positioned to resist axial movement of said pins in one direction relative to said carriage.

Signed at Chicago this 6th day of Sept,

PAUL A. GOLLNICK.

JOHN J. TOOLAN. CURTIS Gr. KRANZ. 

